Washer-placing machine



Aug. 21; 192s.-

- E. HUTCHENS WASHER PLACING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 16, 1926 Aug. 21, 1928; 1,681,480

- E. HUTCHENS WASHER PLACING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1926 4heets-$heet 2 Aug. '21, 1928. 1,681,480

- E. HUTCHENS WASHER PLACING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 WASHER PLACING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l'dzmidf/a/icfima Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

UNITED STATES EDWARD HUTCHENS, OF CUDAHY, WISCONSI EN.

WASHER-PLACING MACHINE.

. Application filed January 16, 1926. Serial No. 81,668.

This invention relates to means'for positioning washers on the individual pins of a rubber heel mold.

It is an object'of this invention to pro-. vide an improved washer sorting and distributing machine adapted. to deposit washers on the individual pins of rubber heel molds.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved washer feeding mechanism adapted to supply a predetermined quantity of washers to a sorting and distributing hopper to prevent clogging thereof due to an oversupply of washers, and to obviate the necessity of frequent stoppages of the machine in order to supply small quantities of washers thereto. In connection with this feeding mechanism it has also been found advantageous to provide a stirrer together with a series of perforations in the wall of the housing to act as an agitator and cleaner for the washers prior to admission to the distributing mechanism proper to eliminate small particles of foreign matter commonly found with the Washers.

Another-objectof this invention is to provide an improved washer depositing mechanism adapted to prevent washers from emerging from the depositing mechanism except when lifted therefrom by the pins of the heel mold. lVith the depositing mechanism'heretofore suggested it has been a frequent occurence for vibration or shocks to release washers which would drop onto the heel mold and lie loose thereon and later cause trouble with the knives used by shoe manufacturers in trimming the heels.

A further object of this invention is to provide a, conveniently located built in switch mechanism that will permit the operator to stop the sorting mechanism when the feeding magazines are full, as it is unnecessary to run the sorter continuously even when the 'maclnne is in continuous use.

Other and further important objects of the invention will hereinafter appear.

This invention (in apreferred form) 1s illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described. 1

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an assembled machine embodying the features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section through the hopper sorting mechanism taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4: is a-longitudinal section of the sort- F 9 is an end view of the center washer placing finger lookmg along the axis there:

of. r

Fig. 10 is a reduced section on the line 10.-10 of Fig. 9. g g

In the embodiment of this invention illustratcd in the drawings the machine is intended. to be manually traversed over a series of heel molds, the frame 15 of the machine having a pair of grooved rollers .or wheels 16 adapted to pass over a row of mold pins, the spacebetween the wheels being closed on either side by plates 17 forming a trough or continuation of the grooved wheels, which are provided to lessen the friction as the machine is drawn over the heel mold. The frame 15 is roughly triangular in form, a

driving motor 18 being mounted within the triangle and one upstanding leg being formed as a handle 19, the other upstanding leg 20, forming the base for the Washer chutes or fingers hereinafter to be described.

Mounted at the apex of the upstanding legs isa washer sorter in the form of a horizontal cylinder 21 having an axially mounted crank shaft 22 therein driven from the motor by belt 23 and gearing 2% giving a large speed reduction. What corresponds to the crank: pin 25 of the so-called crankshaft is really a counterweight for the arms 26 carrying a freely pivoted wiper blade 27. The crankshaft rotates clockwise in Fig. 4 while the pendulum effect of the wiper blade causes it to swing into contact with the" conforming in outline to the washers to be conducted to the chute lingers which guide the washers to the pins upon which they are to be placed. The cylinder is closed by a door 31 extending from the plate 28 to the cylinder proper, an observation window 32 being provided therein. A spring 33 18 secured within the cylinder to take the blow from the swinging wiper plate and to insure proper turning thereof for recngagement with the cylinder walls.

In the illustrated embodiment of this invention three chutes 30 are provided feeding three chute fingers, the middle finger 34 of which has its upper end in a seat 35 and is urged thereagainst by a spring 36. This finger is prevented from more than minor side oscillations by a downwardly projecting pin 37 working between pins 38 on a bracket 39 on the leg 20. A chute 40 in this finger is aligned with and forms a continuation of the chute 30 from the cylinder. The center finger 34 is intended to extend in advance of the side fingers 4:1 and 42 which are therefore, supported by shelves 43 at a lower level on the bracket 39. The side fingers are similarly mounted held by springs 36, a spring 4+1- tying the two side fingers together as they are designed to swing out to care for varying locations of pins in the heel molds.

Vashers are fed to the cylinder 21 through the port 45 in the side wall 46 thereof, a hopper l7 being provided on this side wall, a series of small air ports d8 being arranged to allow small particles of foreign matter to pass therethrough. This hopper can be completely filled while the machine is operating and will not clog the cylinder proper due to an oversupply of washers thereto. In order to stir up the washers in the hopper a spring finger 4-9 is secured to the end of the crankshaft 22 extending through the wall 46 of the cylinder, this stirring tending to sift out the foreign matter and also to insure a steady supply of washers to the cylinder.

A switch housing 50 is provided above the handle 19 and below the plate 28, a switch permitting intermittent operation of the washer distributing mechanisinwhich has a capacity in excess of that required by the washer depositing mechanism even in continuous operation.

The discharge end of the center finger is formed with two depending walls 53 providing an inclined passage 5+1 for the mold pins, the finger sliding over the pin and being lifted slightly thereby; the passage 54 opening into the chute so that the finger drops when the mold pin reaches this point. The side flanges 56 of the chute are cut down below this point and the chute itself terminates short of the end of the finger as indicated by the shoulders 57. These shoulders stop the washer in a position where the pin projects up through the center hole thereof when the finger drops free of the pin, this don-award moven'ient of the finger at the same time lifting the rim of the washer from the shoulders 57. The washer is normally held in the chute above the shoulders 57 by a forked spring a presser foot 5!) being positioned above the spring 58 to press the washer home on the mold pin when the pin moves further to the right relative to the initial washer engaging position. The side linger discharge ends are exact duplicates of the center finger except that only one wall (50 is provided, on the outside in each case, and this wall is carried outwardly as a plow adapted to extend out to draw the side fingers out to engage variously spaced pins.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A machine of the class described comprising a chamber to sort washers, chutes conducting washers from the chamber, chute fingers for conducting washers from said chutes to pins upon which the washers are to be deposited, a crankshaft journalcd in the walls of said chamber, a wiper movable across the openings to said chutes and eccentrically journaled on said crank shaft opposite to the crank thereof whereby the crank counterbalances said wiper.

2. In a machine of the class described, a washer sorting chamber, a counterbalanced crankshaft and a wiper journaled on said crankshaft opposite to the counterbalance and adapted to swing past said counterbalance.

3. A machine of the class described comprising a washer sorting chamber, a shaft journaled in the walls of said chamber, a wiper member pivoted to said shaft, a counterbalance for said wiper member, washer chutes opening into said chamber, and washer depositing means associated with said chutes.

4. In a machine of the class described washer sorting mechanism, and washer chutes fed thereby said chutes terminating in washer positioning mechanism comprising members having stops for the outermost washer, yielding means holding said washer above the stops and permitting said. washer to be lifted free of said stops, and means adapted to press on said wasl'iers after said washers have been lifted out of said chute stops.

5. A device of the class described comprising a chamber containing washers, chutes leading from said chamber, individual fingers pivotally connected to the over individual Washer receiving pins and W to drop thereover in a position whereby the pin projects into the washer to lift it from the retaining shoulders, and a bifurcated presser finger extending beyond the ends of said spring fingers adapted to straddle the receiving pins after the pins have with- 15 drawn the Washers from the fingers.

In test mony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

EDWARD HUTCHEN S. 

